“I’m not going to ask you for anything. You’ve done enough.” He laid his palm against my cheek and cupped my jaw, his gaze moving over my face as though he was committing my features to memory.

I put my arms around him and buried my face against his shoulder. “I don’t want you to disappear.”

He smoothed my hair and kissed my forehead, but he didn’t promise anything. The funny thing about a broken heart, you don’t remember how it feels until it happens again. Even if it happens twice in one day.

“Goodbye, Carrie.” He kissed my cheek and stepped away, then turned and walked out the door.

Despite all he’d put me through over the course of our acquaintance, I sat on the floor and cried for him.

Chapter 27
Loose Ends

Max had nearly loaded the Trans-Am with his meager luggage when Bella came to say goodbye. She stood on the sidewalk and watched him pretend to be busy with something in the open hatchback.

“When does your plane leave?” he asked without looking at her.

“The charter is in Africa. I will be here for two more days.” She stepped closer to him. “Your friend has graciously offered me his living room couch.”

The thought of Bella staying with Nathan alone twisted his guts. Not that he thought Nathan would try anything. In his logical mind, he knew his friend was too busted up over what had happened to him to even think about romance. But the caveman part of Max wanted to challenge Nathan to some sort of wrestling match to protect his woman.

“If you are ever in Spain, you know where to find me,” she said, clearly attempting humor.

Against his better judgment, and the litany of “Max Harrison does not beg” that had been chanting through his brain through the long, sleepless day, he said, “Stay with me.”

“You know I cannot.” Her response came easily, as if she’d known the question would come and it had only been a matter of time.

That made Max hate himself even more for asking. “I don’t know that. We have something together, Bella.”

She flinched at the sound of her own name. “You are confusing sex with love.”

“Really?” He laughed angrily. “I’m glad you know what I’m feeling. Can I get a number to your direct line, in case I’m ever stuck in a rut and can’t decide if I’m angry or just need to take a shit?”

“Do not be crude! Just because you have let yourself believe some fantasy that I would, what, melt into your arms? Forsake my life as I know it to be with you?” She folded her arms across her chest. “I told you from the beginning what this was. It was purely physical.”